So much for the literature ....

[Elmer Atté]

Well, so much for the literature (okay, some of it was quite on the nose).

On the nose:
35 days exactly
mom got quite cranky and nippy
good advice to clean habitat just before the due date

Unexpected:
mom didn't build a nest (like literature said she would)
mom had babies out in the open
mom kept looking at me, over the edge of the habitat, each time there was one more arrival (what, was she showing off??? :banana: )

Born today between 7:55 and 8:00 a.m. (yes, I was there!!!! :hyper: ) were 5 little hoglets.

I decided to put a screen over the part of the habitat where the babies were born, and covered the screen with a towel to give a bit of privacy (do they care?), just in case it became an issue.

Can't wait to get home to see how things went. Beauty (the mom) seemed to be looking after her babies quite well enough!

Pictures taken just after 8 a.m. The clearest one is a bit too large, will try to re-size it tonight. But you least you see the newbies.
:ring:

[cricket]

nice pictures. we didn't get to see our babies that small. good luck with them!

[Elmer Atté]

Thanks.... :)

To be quite honest, I'm a bit anxious, just because of the fact they weren't born inside a nest. I' hoping the five are still there when I get home. I'll be doing my best to minimise undue disturbances. (Although, I did take out the wheel as soon as I the babies started coming - I hope that won't bug the **** out of her, she loves her wheel!)

nice pictures. we didn't get to see our babies that small. good luck with them!

[Elmer Atté]

The clearest pic from this morning.... who knew they would be the size of a small slug?

All five are still here, although I had to put one back into the "nesting area" from the igloo (no worries, I used a plastic ladle, I didn't touch it!). I guess, even though they are still blind, they really are quite mobile!

[illinidairychic]

They can get pretty far, especially being so small. I would just keep a close eye on them since they aren't in a 'nest' but an area...the ladle was very smart. Mom might have a hard time keeping them all together since there are 5 of them. OH and they are adorable!!!

[Bob]

I would worry, the fact that they are not even in a enclosed space is unsafe for the babies. I am curious to know if she feeds them. Guess time will tell, best of luck.

Bob

[Elmer Atté]

Hey Bob...

Actually, she's being a really good mother. She's feeding them! Here are a couple of more pix, 13 hours later. She picked up the "hidey hat" that each hedgehog has to cover up the hoglets.

The one I scooped up with the ladle, I saw her clean it up (thank goodness, it wasn't doing something bad!)

Beauty is moving around every so often, but is frequently on her side nursing the babies.

Out of curiosity, since I haven't come across it in the stuff I have: how many teats does a hedgehog have?

I'll be crossing my fingers over the next little while, but so far so good :winkgrin:

[lil22]

i think they have 8 teats??? or maybe 10, but I think it's 8...

[Elmer Atté]

Here are a couple of shots from the morning - they were just over 24 hours.

[Elmer Atté]

The hoglets are now 1 and 1/2 days old - 36 hours, taken this evening. Beauty had covered up the babies with the hat, so I can't tell if all five are still there. I think so, I can't see blood or anything.

Poor girl, those babies are pretty demanding!